Hartsuyker welcomes moves for Senate Inquiry into importation of Philippine bananas

November 20, 2008

Federal MP Luke Hartsuyker has welcomed moves by a Nationals Senate colleague to hold a Senate Inquiry into Biosecurity Australia’s final Import Risk Analysis (IRA) allowing the importation of bananas from the Philippines.

Queensland based Nationals Senator, Ron Boswell, has secured a commitment out of the Senate’s Chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs Committee, Bill Heffanan, for a formal Senate inquiry into the IRA.

 

“The Nationals are committed to working with the banana industry to ensure  Philippine bananas are not permitted to threaten the disease free Australian bananas.

 

“Biosecurity Australia has released a 600 page report and given the industry just 30 days to respond. Given the amount of detail in the report it is essential that key elements relating to disease and quarantine are subject to close scrutiny.

 

“That is why I welcome this move by the Senate to hold a formal inquiry.

 

“In my view it is simply not worth the risk to allow Philippine bananas into Australia.

 

“It is essential that Australia remains free of exotic diseases such as Moko, Black Sigatoka and Freckle which are prevalent in the Philippines.

 

“As I have repeatedly highlighted, the recent EI outbreak in the horse industry reminds us of the devastating consequences when quarantine standards lapse.

 

“I will be working with my Senate colleagues to ensure that BA is held to account over the potential threat to our disease free banana industry and on what basis they propose to allow bananas to be imported.

 

“Australia has a definite competitive advantage over other nations because our bananas are free of major diseases. It does not make sense to put that reputation and the quality of our product at risk.”

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